National Security Strategy under scrutiny in new Parliamentary inquiry

IN JUNE, the Government published its long-awaited National Security Strategy, which focuses on boosting the UK’s security at home, strength abroad and sovereign and asymmetric capabilities.

In that document, the Government warned that it would no longer be enough for the UK to “manage risks or react to new circumstances” and emphasised that the nation needs to “mobilise every element of society towards a collective national effort”. It further warned that, for the first time in many years, there was a risk of the UK homeland coming under direct threat.

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy’s inquiry will examine whether the National Security Strategy sets out the right priorities, how tensions between different objectives will be reconciled and how its core commitments will be funded and delivered.

The inquiry will also explore the details of policy choices, particularly so around challenging areas such as China or national resilience, and how well the National Security Strategy joins up different parts of Government.

Matt Western, chair of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, said: “The Government’s new National Security Strategy is a huge moment for the UK’s approach towards resilience, defence and security. It’s right that Parliament takes a close look at exactly how its ambitions will be achieved.”

Western continued: “How will all of this fit together? Are there any gaps and how will competing priorities be reconciled? In an interconnected world, this strategy needs to bring together the vast machinery of Government and mobilise the private sector to deliver on national security objectives. Delivery will be key. Our inquiry will examine the choices and trade-offs and how well the key objectives are being delivered across Government.”